1. (a) Criminal penalty. — Any person who willfully violates any provision of this subchapter or of any regulation issued under the authority of this subchapter shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $1,000 for each day a violation occurs or continues or be imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any prosecution for violations of this subchapter or of any regulations issued under the authority of this subchapter shall be brought in the name of the District of Columbia in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
2. (b) Civil remedy. — Any person who demolishes, alters or constructs a building or structure in violation of § 6-1104, § 6-1105, or § 6-1107 shall be required to restore the building or structure and its site to its appearance prior to the violation. Any action to enforce this subsection shall be brought in the name of the District of Columbia in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia. This civil remedy shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any criminal prosecution and penalty.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Civil fines, penalties, and fees may be imposed as alternative sanctions for any infraction of the provisions of this act, or any rules or regulations issued under the authority of this subchapter, pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Civil fines, penalties, and fees imposed pursuant to this subsection shall:

         1. (i) Account for the severity of the violation; and
         2. (ii) Not exceed $10,000 per violation.

      2. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, civil fines, penalties, and fees for willful demolitions, alterations, or new construction shall:

         1. (i) Account for the severity of the violation; and
         2. (ii) Start at $10,000 per violation, but not exceed $25,000 per violation.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The Historic Preservation Office shall be responsible for enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter.
   2. (2) The Mayor may delegate to the Historic Preservation Office coordinated enforcement of Building Code provisions applicable to preservation of historic landmarks and historic districts pursuant to a written agreement with and under the authority of the Building Code Official.
5. (e) An appeal of any enforcement action brought by the Historic Preservation Office shall be heard by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Editor's Notes

Section 4 of D.C. Law 16-189 provided: “The implementation of the provisions of this act is subject to appropriations and nothing in this act shall be construed to create an entitlement.”

Because of the codification of D.C. Law 5-69 as subchapter II of this chapter, and the designation of the preexisting text of Chapter 11 as subchapter I, “subchapter” has been substituted for “chapter,” where applicable, in this section.

History

Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-144, § 11, 25 DCR 6939

Oct. 5, 1985, D.C. Law 6-42, § 412, 32 DCR 4450

Nov. 16, 2006, D.C. Law 16-185,§ 2(o), 53 DCR 6712

Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-189, § 2(b), 53 DCR 6786

Mar. 25, 2009, D.C. Law 17-353, § 128(a), 56 DCR 1117

Dec. 17, 2024, D.C. Law 25-239, § 2

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Targeted Historic Preservation Assistance Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-500, October 23, 2006, 53 DCR 9046).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2(b), 4 of Targeted Historic Preservation Assistance Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-472, July 31, 2006, 53 DCR 6781).

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 17-353 validated a previously made technical correction in the designation of subsec. (e).

D.C. Law 16-189 added subsec. (e).

D.C. Law 16-185 added subsec. (d).

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 5-830.

1981 Ed., § 5-1010.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 6-1109.02.